Newsletter March 2010

Author: InsaneScouter

TheMarch 30, 2010

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InsaneScouter Information

Greetings and welcome to another InsaneScouter Newsletter.

First, I would like to announce the winner of our trivia contest “What branch of Scouting for older boys became an official part of the Scouting movement in 1912?” Those of you who said “Sea Scouts” were correct … well sort of … Here is some text as sent to me by one of our readers.

“The statement in the handbook is not really correct.The man A A Carey mentioned as the Scoutmaster of a troop called Pioneer was not a Scoutmaster and there was no troop called Pioneer.

A A Carey was the equivalent of a District Chairman in the Boston District in Waltham, Massachusetts in 1910. He founded a Scout troop on 28 November 1910 and three weeks later the troop acquired a boat which they renamed Pioneer. They trained in seamanship and went on their Long Cruise in June 1911 and are therefore considered to be Sea Scouts.

The date 1912 is also wrong. I found the original account in the New York Times archives. The Sea Scout program was officially adopted by the BSA at the annual meeting in 1913.”

Ok Ok enough history lesson …. The winner of the contest isTed Nichols congratulations you won a 1 year subscription to ScoutManage.com. Please reply to this email so that I can get you hooked up.

http://scouterbooks.com/ is now live. There are 389 books currently available. In these books you will find all the ideas you will ever need including activities, games, songs, skits, ceremonies, stories, crafts, recipes, etc. If you have any books to share with us, please send me an email.

You will notice on all of our sites InsaneScouter, Scouter Books, and Scouting A Nation there is a now a link to the new user control panel. One InsaneScouter it is still listed as “beta control panel. The current control panel will be getting removed soon. Please let me know what you think of the new control panel, if you have any problems with it, and if there are any ways I can make it better.

Also as part of this new control panel you can now host your Scouting project with InsaneScouter. You get 20mb of space and 1 mysql database with the free package. With a $25 a year paid upgrade you get 50mb space and 5 mysql databases among many other features. The $15 1gb upgrade is only for those already at the $25 paid level. To find these upgrades look in the new control panel and click on “Upgrade Account”. (Several of these paid features are still under development.)

We are working on launching a new site called ScouterLinks. This site will be a directory, almost like a search engine of Scouting related websites. Not only will links be sorted by category, but you will also be able to search for links by keyword. If you would like to add any Scouting related websites to the directory, login to the new control panel and click on “add links”. You can updated any links you add at anytime.

Football Pudding 1 package instant pudding mix milk called for in directions on package2 re-sealable bagsPour both milk and pudding mix into a plastic bag. Squeeze all the air out and seal. Place firstbag in second bag and squeeze all the air out, seal. Stand in a circle and toss the “football”around for about five minuets. When pudding is done snip the corner of the bags and squeezeinto cups for serving....

Remember Me? Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star Spangled Banner, but whatever they call me, I am your Flag, the Flag of the United States of America... Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you... because it is about you and me. I remember some time ago people lined up on both sides of the street to watch the parade and naturally I was leading...

Steve O'Connor Name: Steve O’Connor (aka PTSteve or ptsteve) as in Pack Trainer SteveDate: 2010What are your personal hobbies? Scouting, Cub Scouting, more Scouting. Hobbies involve the family, coaching my sons teams, being their Den Leader, being a Leader in the Pack as the Pack Trainer, representing our Pack at Roundtables, being a blogger for InsaneScouter. It is also fun to work with Scott and help improve Insane Scouter. I also have to remember to keep FUN in all...

Mini Football Subs Meat balls spaghetti sauceShredded cheese individual-size rollsCombine meatballs and spaghetti sauce in a skillet and warm them through. For each sub, cut aV-shaped notch from the top of an individual-size roll, place meatball in the roll, and top withcheese shred laces. Finally, get the sandwiches in a huddle on a cookie sheet and place them in awarm oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese....

PASSING THE LIGHT and the SPIRIT OF GIRL SCOUTING When Juliette Gordon Low established Girl Scouting in 1912, the tradition of candlelight ceremonies was an important part of the various activities. Through the early years, she passed the light and spirit of Girl Scouting on to others through investitures and campfires. They, in turn, continued to pass the light and the spirit. Over the years, the light and spirit of Girl Scouting has taken many different paths. The following is a brief history of...

The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby and Gilbert This is a very cute and inspiring article. I thought I would share it our readers. The article came from: Inspire21.com yet the author is unknown… at least she know who she is.The Cub Scout Pinewood Derby and Gilbert– Author UnknownMy son Gilbert was eight years old and had been a Cub Scout only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return...

Our Girl Scout World Supplies: 5 blue candles 1 large green candle 3 white candles #1 GS: I light this candle for the flame of sisterhood that burns in the heart of every Girl Scout. (Light large green candle)#2 G S: These three candles represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise. #3 GS: On my honor I will try to serve God and my country. (Light white candle) #4 GS: To help people at all times. (Light...

Pearls Wishing Ceremony A meaningful ceremony to honor or recognize a person or event; to think about victims of a tragedy ordisaster; or to send special thoughts to someone goingthrough a difficult time.Materials needed: 3 candles, a pearl-like bead foreach participant, a container to represent a "wishingwell"The group stands in a horse shoe. The wishing welland candles are placed on a table and located at thehead of the horseshoe. The center candle is lit."We gather here today to...

Octopus Tag Choose one person to be the octopus. Theoctopus is “it.” If you are playing indoors, youwill need to clear a space between two walls. Ifyou are playing outdoors, lay two ropes on theground about thirty feet across from each other.The person who is the octopus stands in themiddle of the “field.” All other players line upon one side of the rope or against a wall. Theoctopus looks at them and says, “Fishy, fishy,in the sea, won’t you come and swim...

Under the bridge Make an arch by turning two chairs forward,top to top, in front of each group. Boys arelined up in relay formation. The first boy runsto the chairs and crawls under them. Then heruns to the other end of the room and doesthree deep knee bends. Then he runs back tohis group, jumping over the chairs on the way.If a player knocks down one of the chairs, hemust replace it before he continues. Team tofinish first wins....

Cub Scout Spirit Opening Preparation: Set up four candles and lights.Cubmaster: As Scouts and leaders, we are following a trail blazed by millions of boys, men, andwomen. All of them have had that Scouting spirit, which the flame of this light represents (lights first candle.)Cub Scout 1: What is Cub Scout spirit?Cub Scout 2: It is the three things we promise to do in the Cub Scout Promise.Cub Scout 3: The first part is, “I promise to do my best to do my duty...

Jump the Creek Each boy does his best and tries to improve hislast jump. Two ropes are laid parallel and closetogether. One at a time, the boys jump acrossthe ‘creek.’ After all have jumped, the distancebetween the ropes is increased slightly. Theboys must not step in the creek (between theropes) or on the water edge (the ropes) or theyare eaten by sharks and must leave the game....

Push - Catch Everyone is in a circle except for one personin the middle (leader). The leader has a ballthat he throws to those in the circle. The leadermust shout out either push or catch. The personto whom the ball is thrown must do the oppositeaction that was shouted out. If the leadershouts “push,” the Cub must catch the ball. Ifthe leader shouts catch the Cub pushes the ball.If an error is committed by either not doing theopposite or stumbling with the ball...

Footprints relay Using heavy cardboard, cutout footprints 15” long and8” wide. Two footprints areneeded per team. Play gameas a competition (2 or 3 teamsas a relay race at a set distance).Place both footprintsone in front of the other. Step on the first withone foot and on the second with the other foot.Now lift rear foot. Pick up footprint and moveit ahead. Move lifted foot into new position.Do the same with the other foot and continue,step by step to finish line....

Driveway or Parking Lot Baseball Draw a simple baseball field (not just diamond) on the ground with chalk. Mark different colored circlesin various areas of the field. Each color would indicate a type of hit: single, double, triple, or home run.To play, the player kneels or stands at home plate and tosses a stone into a circle. If he misses it’s an out.If it lands in the circle the other team can try to toss their stone into the same circle. If the second teammakes...

King's Nivy I don't want toMarch with the infantry, Ride with the cavalry, Shoot with the artillery. I don't want to Fly over Germany. I'm in the King's nivy I'm in the King's nivy I'M in the King's nivy Oh.......... Replace words withmotions"March"....stomp feet "Ride".....sit up and down "Shoot"....Fire rifle "Bang" "Fly";......Spread arms...

Doves of peace Materials needed: five small paper doves for each participantWe gather here to reflect on this Pole of Peace. We come from many different backgrounds, religions, races, and may speak in different languages. Some of us have blue eyes, some brown, or green, some are blond, some brunette, or perhaps a bit of gray. We are tall, short, thin, fluffy, young and not so young. It doesn't really matter because we all deeply desire the same...

One, a 9-11 Ceremony This might be something nice for a service unit to sponsor on 9/11 or join with local firefighters, police, in a ceremony already being planned.Speaker One: As the soot and dirt and ash rained down,Speaker Two: We became one color.Speaker One: As we carried each other down the stairs of the burning buildingSpeaker Three: We became one class.Speaker One: As we lit candles of waiting and hopeSpeaker Four: We became one generation.Speaker One: As the...

The Magic Necklace A Lesson on the GS Promise [Hint: doing the craft while telling the story is doubly effective] Once upon a time, there was a wise old needle who decided to make a beige necklace. It enlisted the help of some string and set out on its journey. Beads rushed by the thousands to join. The needle welcomed all the beads and quickly threaded them on. This process went on for quite some time. The necklace got...

Keep The Campfire Burning Keep the camp fire burning,Day to night is turningSoon our fancies with the stars in dreams shall roam;Let the light be glowing,Warmth land sleep bestowing'Till at last the dawn comes up for the long trail home....

GORP Ceremony Tonight/Today we will build a sweet and healthy snack to nourish our bodies. It symbolizes how the many ways of Girl Scouting nourishes our spirits.We have a promise and a law. On our honor, we try to do our best to be fair and square. So we will begin with CHEX.Girl Scouts come in all colors, from all races around the world. Every Girl Scout is a sister no matter where she is from, no...

Keep On The Sunny Side Chorus: Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side, Keep on the sunny side of life, YEE-HAW! You will feel no pain as we drive you all insane, so Keep on the sunny side of life! (between choruses, do a series of knock-knock jokes, like thefollowing:)Leader: Knock knock! All: Who's there? Leader: Ether! All: Ether who? Leader: The Ether Bunny! HA HA HA HA... Leader: Knock knock! All: Who's there? Leader: Nother! All: Nother who? Leader: Nother Ether...

Cookie Award Ceremony Leader: Girl Scouting helps each girl to grow as she:Scout: Develops Values.Scout: Relates to other with increasing understanding, skill and respect.Scout: Deepens her awareness of herself as a person of worth.Scout: Contributes to her society in cooperative efforts with others.Leader: Girl Scouting is an informal educational program designed to inspire girls with the highest ideals of character, conduct, patriotism, and service that they may becomehappy and resourceful citizens. Everyone who is a member of the...

Keep On Scouting Let me keep on Scouting Through the years to come Let me know the pleasures And the joy and fun, Ever aiding others better men to be, That, we know "Good Scouting" Brings to you and me....

Tree Planting Ceremony Supplies: 1. Tree 2. ShovelsProcedure: Dig hole in advance; any digging done during the ceremony is only for symbolism. Assemble the group in a circle around the hole with the tree placed next to the hole.LEADER: Good friends, Troop # _____ will plant a tree that each year will say that those who walked these paths today have left a growing memory here to bring new loveliness each year.#1 GS: And so I dig the...

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Ramblings

Lesson: First Class Board of Review When I was still a young Scout I went before the board for my First Class Rank. The board was made up of 3 adults and was set off in a side room of the building we were meeting in....

Fuzzy and Scout March 2010 Hi All, Fuzzy and Scout here. As we write this it is almost Easter and that means it is time for the Easter bunny to come by and hide loads of chocolate and salmon.But it also means that spring has finally...

1,000th Subscriber Contest and Lodge Mfg We are almost at a milestone here at InsaneScouter, having over 1,000 subscribers to our newsletter. As a thank you to our subscribers, you will find a special gift in our April 2010 newsletter.Our friends at Lodge Mfg have graciously...

Lesson: Hammock and Chips A few years ago I was helping staff a event between two Troops. I had some time to relax so I laid down in my hammock for a while. My stomach grumbled so one of the older Scouts who was...

Mobile Office A few years ago when I was still handling the administrative tasks for the Troop I was working with I created what I call “The Mobile Office”. The pictures below who the tool box which I converted into a what...

See America First Recently, I have been watching the Ken Burns National Park series on dvd. It is very interesting how the National Park Service (NPS) got started and why. It was not started by a president or even congress. It was started...

One of your Cub Scouts makes it all worth it This happened to me this week at our last Den Meeting.In the middle of our Den Meeting during a transition point one of my Wolf Scouts pulled me aside and asked me a question. Now you have to understand,"pulled aside"...

Lesson: Where is my backpack I remember one campout in particular, it was a nice enough weekend weather wise, but a Scout learned a hard lesson.The Scouts started unloading the cars and sitting up camp. After a while one of the older Scouts started hunting...

Years End aka Cub Scouting Year Hello Fellow Scouters, We are on the back side of our Cub Scouting Year. The boys are bouncing because they can't go out, well let them out. Also remember to ask the parents that their boys will be back.YIS, ptsteve...

Scoutmanage I recently had the chance to interview Lee Atchison the founder of ScoutManage, and a major InsaneScouter sponsor. I asked him a bunch of questions and here is his answers. Can you tell me a little bit about ScoutManage, what it...

Brotherhood of Scouting How many of you know that purple patch you wear on your uniform represents that Boy Scouts of America is a member of the World Organization Scouting Movement (WOSM). WOSM is the organization all Scouting programs world wide are part...

Scout Shop Loves Me Is it a bad thing the Scout Shop knows me by name?Well, I took my boys with me today to the Scout Shop to get a few things. We do try to keep it to a few things per visit...

Lesson: Teaching Totin' Chit One year when I was on Summer Camp staff I was the main person teaching the Totin' chit at camp. I even got to the point where I was being asked by Scoutmasters to come to there camp and put...

Butterscotch Trail Mix This may sound weird on the surface but its actually really good... Take the normal ingredients for trail mix for example: nuts, cheerios, dried fruit, raisins, chex mix, etc. Mix together in a large bowl like normal, but also mix...

Top Rated Pages

Please rate pages yourself, when using the site. all you have to do is login and then click on one of the 5 stars.

Scout SignsApril Fools Day April Fools Day is upon us. I was burned once pretty publicly and don't care to repeat it for anyone else. A Scout is Kind. Not that I mind being fooled in the...

100 Days of Scouting100 Days of Scouting: Day 53 Today I: Helped a(nother) Scout with his merit badge selection for summer camp. Sent out a lot of information (all I could find) on Twitter about the new Historic Merit Badges: Carpentry,...

A Boy Scout BlogA Change in Direction…. If you have visited the site today you may have noticed a change in the theme. There is a reason for this. Recently, Google Inc. contacted me about acquiring my blog and integrating...

Ropes and PolesCloverleaf lashing- supporting the poles I posted this photograph of Adiero's octopod cloverleaf lashing at Kontiki. Here is the formwork needed to support it while tying the lashing (thanks to Louise from Adiero for the...

Rope and PolesCloverleaf lashing- supporting the poles I posted this photograph of Adiero's octopod cloverleaf lashing at Kontiki. Here is the formwork needed to support it while tying the lashing (thanks to Louise from Adiero for the...

They Saved the Baby from the River! John Fitzgerald, 9, Christian Nanson, 11, and other members of Pack 100 and Troop 100 were swimming in Nebraska’s Platte River when Christian spotted a baby floating facedown in the...

He saved the boy from the riptide! As Todd Staszak, 15, was bodyboarding at Hatteras, N.C., he heard cries for help. A man was trying to save his son and his son’s friend as a powerful riptide...

Thoughts to Ponder

Everybody here likes to hear fish stories, the wilder the better. I expect we'll have a lot of them after our Fishing Camp-Out this month. We enjoy them because they're funny, and nobody is fooled into thinking they really happened.

But some people tell fish stories all the time. They're not usually funny stories. In fact, they're really lies. I call them minnows and whoppers.

Minnows are little lies that just shade the truth. For instance, maybe a guy is playing Skish and says he hit a target 55 feet away when it was really only 40 feet. No serious damage is done, except to the guy's own character, from a minnow like that.

The trouble is, if you get used to telling minnows, it becomes easier to tell whoppers - the big lies that may hurt somebody.

The best thing is to stick to the truth. Minnows have a way of growing into whoppers.

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